World News Quick Take

Agencies

UNITED KINGDOM

US-held man’s bid rejected

Britain’s top court on Wednesday rejected a legal bid by a Pakistani man in US custody in Afghanistan to force the British government to do more to seek his release. Yunus Rahmatullah, 30, was captured in Iraq in 2004 by British forces which then handed him to US authorities. He was later transferred to Afghanistan’s Bagram jail where he has been held without charge ever since. The Supreme Court said on Wednesday that it had dismissed appeals by Rahmatullah and by legal charity Reprieve on the grounds that the British government was unable to force his return from US custody.

It said “the response by the US was sufficient to demonstrate that the UK could not secure his release.”

CANADA

Parliament bans masks

The parliament passed a ban on Wednesday on masks at riots that punishes violations with up to 10 years behind bars in a bid to crack down on radical groups. The measure, adopted 153 to 126, aims to target the “growing threat” of vandalism and violence, said MP Blake Richards, who sponsored the bill. The bill sets 10 years in prison for people who wear a mask during a riot without legitimate excuses, and five years if it is an illegal protest.

Opposition members said the law was not necessary because the criminal code already sets punitive measures.

Mexico

Fence-climbing Jeep found

Suspected smugglers tried to use ramps to drive an SUV over a 4.25m fence along the US-Mexico border, but they abandoned the effort when it got stuck on top. US Border Patrol spokesman Spencer Tippets says agents spotted the SUV perched atop the fence early on Tuesday near the border between Arizona and California. Two people on the Mexican side were trying to free the Jeep when the agents approached. They ran further into Mexico. The Jeep was empty, but agents say it was probably filled with contraband like marijuana before it got stuck. The smugglers had built ramps that looked like long ladders to drive up and over the fence.

UNITED STATES

Poker player wins US$8.5m

A professional US player, Greg Merson, became World Series of Poker champion Wednesday after a marathon 13-hour final session, organizers said. The 24-year-old took home US$8,531,853 and the series’ gold bracelet following an all-night game in Las Vegas involving 400 hands, against fellow finalists Jesse Sylvia and Jake Balsiger. Merson said he plans to travel to Chinese gambling capital Macau to play in high-stakes cash games, instead of traveling the circuit to compete in grueling tournaments.

SWITZERLAND

Prostitution ring dismantled

Police said on Wednesday they had dismantled a network that imported Thai women and men and forced them to work as prostitutes in several Swiss cities. The main suspect, a 42-year-old Thai woman with a Swiss residence permit, was arrested during the second half of last year in Germany and had been extradited to Switzerland, Bern police said. Most of the victims came from poverty in Thailand and had known they would be working as prostitutes in Switzerland, police said, but because of the massive fees the network charged to get them to the country and for being allowed to work in its brothels they basically became sex slaves.